Statisticians Trained in Software Analysis

The Statistical Institute of Belize, in partnership with the United Nations’ Population Fund, wrapped up a two-day training in data analysis and micro-data access in Belize City. The training for personnel from different ministries including agriculture and youth, the Belize Tourism Board and University of Belize and several other organizations saw the introduction of a software that provides a range of techniques including analysis, data mining and reporting. It makes it easier to manage data, select and perform analyses, and share your results. It is being used by the S.I.B. for a few years now.

Curwen Arthurs

Curwen Arthurs, Statistician 1, SIB

“It covers the basics in terms of how to open, use and operate the software. We are hoping in the future that we could do more training in the intermediate and advanced levels but this first training is just an introduction into the soft-ware itself.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, in what kind of projects or different ways can you use this soft-ware?”

Curwen Arthurs

“IBMSPSS is a software that can be used and applied for data analysis in any particular field. It could be in health; it originated in the social-sciences but it is not only limited to that. So, it can be applied to any field to do data analysis.”

Andrea Polanco

“Now, in terms of using this software to analyze data; does it help to simplify the work that statisticians or people who are doing research do?”

Curwen Arthurs

“Yes, it does. What it has is a lot of built-in functionalities that do a lot of the stuff that we would normally do using excel or some other program. It automatically does it for you. So, it shortens a lot of the processes and also eliminates some of the human error.”

Andrea Polanco

“Why does the SIB feel that it is important that these organizations do this kind of training?”

Curwen Arthurs

“Well, I believe the main purpose and reasoning to start an initiative like this and to continue in the future is that the SIB is looking at working on the NSS (National Statistical System) and in order to do that we have to ensure that we build the capacity within all the different ministries, the different stakeholders and partners and this one of the ways we could do that.”

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